Below is a table of the new visa period pattern. These enhanced measures are applicable to the applications submitted on or after 28 December 2022. For applications submitted before 28 December 2022, successful applicants will be granted entry in the original pattern of limit of stay.

Hong Kong – Exemption of proof of local recruitment & applicant’s work experience for some employment visa cases

HK Immigration Department has announced a list of facilitation measures under the General Employment Policy (GEP) and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP).

Proof of local recruitment is exempted if:

• it’s an intra-company transfer for managerial / professional post;
• the applicant was graduated from one of the top 100 global universities [further, proof of work experience is not required] ; or
• the applicant is employed by well-established company with annual remuneration of at least HK$2 million [further, proof of academic qualification & work experience are not required]

These measures streamline the application requirements and reduce preparation time substantially.  Besides, exempting the local recruitment reduces the embarrassing moment when the company is arranging an intra-company transfer, where it indeed would not consider outside candidates at all.  These show that HK government is committed to attracting quality talents to work and stay in HK.

The Government announced that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and with a positive result of serology testing for antibodies will be allowed a shortened compulsory quarantine period of seven days upon arrival.

To learn about Hong Kong latest quarantine arrangements for inbound travelers from specified places, please see below link:-

https://www.brandhk.gov.hk/html/en/Hong-Kong-Update/Entry-to-Hong-Kong.html

Normally, an extension of visa can only be handled by Hong Kong Immigration Department, while the applicants are physically in Hong Kong. Many visa holders may not be able to return to Hong Kong timely due to covid-19.

Hong Kong Immigration Department just announced that for those whose visa is about to expire (within four weeks) or has expired for less than 12 months, they can still submit the extension application, even though they are still in overseas. Processing time is around 2-3 weeks. Once approved, applicants can enter Hong Kong within 6 months to complete the extension procedures. This applies to all kinds of visa extension (except for domestic helpers and imported workers), e.g. employment visa, dependant visa, investment visa, CIES, etc.

This new policy is a very good news to visa holders, so as to:

1. Get the visa extended without being in Hong Kong for now
2. Enter Hong Kong with the approved visa (currently non-Hong Kong residents, including those with expired Hong Kong visas, cannot enter Hong Kong from overseas)
3. Get the expired extended

Related news：

For full procedural details, please contact our immigration consultants at (+852) 37497899

http://www.visapro.com.hk

News from Hong Kong Immigration Department:

https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/message_from_us/20201231.html